Skies are cloudy early on this Saturday morning and precipitation is starting to move  into the area from the west, temperatures range from the upper 30s in the Clifton area to around freezing further inland, winds are light.

A cold front will cross the area this afternoon preceded by mainly rain, however some precipitation may start off as freezing rain over the higher elevations of Northwest New Jersey and the Hudson Valley but then quickly change to plain rain.  Temperatures will be seasonably mild reaching the 40s by this afternoon, even though it is mild it is not as warm as we had last year when the mercury rose to an incredible 71 degrees on Christmas Eve.  I do also remember that 50 years ago today we had  around 10 inches of snow on this date, Public Service had to come out in heavy snow because our heat went out.

Tonight and Christmas Day will be very pleasant with dry conditions and temperatures seasonably mild.

Looking ahead to next week we will have a few fronts that may cause precipitation Monday night into Tuesday morning  and again late Thursday mostly falling as rain, temperatures during this period should average above normal with colder weather likely towards next weekend.

 

THE FORECAST:

TODAY – Rain mainly falling this morning, high in the upper 40s.

TONIGHT – Mostly clear, low in the low 30s.

CHRISTMAS DAY – Sunny, high in the upper 40s.

MONDAY – Mostly sunny in the morning, mostly cloudy in the afternoon, high in the mid 40s, chance of rain at night.

TUESDAY – Partly sunny with a chance of showers in the morning, mild with highs in the mid 50s.

WEDNESDAY – Sunny, high in the low 40s.

THURSDAY – Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain, high in the mid 40s.

FRIDAY – Partly sunny, high near 40.

 

MARINE FORECAST:   Small craft advisory in effect till 6 p.m this evening for southwest winds gusting to 25 knots, seas 3-6 feet.

OUTLOOK – No advisories expected Sunday and during the day on Monday, possible advisories Monday night into Tuesday, no advisories expected Tuesday night through Thursday.

 

Have a good Christmas Eve!